Author's Note: This is my first attempt at making a SOA fic. So, hopefully you guys like it. It'll get better with future chapters. Let me know what you think. (Rated "M" for later chapters.)

-Anneryn

I DO NOT OWN SONS OF ANARCHY OR THE CHARACTERS.

Music Credit: "Sing for the Moment" – Eminem

Chapter One:

I brought my palm to my forehead and cringed at the pain. I sighed and dragged myself out of bed. These daily migraines have got to stop. I can't keep waking up with these headaches. It's too fucking difficult to function with them. I shook my head. I envy the people who can stay home and take break from their lives when this happens to them. I found my way to the kitchen and grabbed some prescription pills off of the window sill. I popped a few into my hand and swallowed them dry.

No sooner had I downed the pills when I heard my phone go off. I winced and ran towards my bedroom.

'We're nothin' to you, but we're the fuckin' shit in their eyes.
That's why we seize the moment, try to freeze it and own it.
Squeeze it and hold it, 'cause we consider these minutes golden.
Maybe they'll admit it, when we're gone…'

The music is so loud, but if I don't have a loud ringtone, it won't wake me up when I sleep. I sighed as I finally reached the phone. I looked at the Caller ID before picking up. It's Jax. I picked up.

"Hello," I breathed into the phone. I could hear the smirk in Jax' voice before he said anything.

"Well good morning to you too, Darlin'. And what have you been doing to get yourself so breathless?" He asked, cockily. I sighed into the phone. I heard him chuckle to himself.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I teased. He let out a full on laugh.

"Actually, I would… that's why I asked." He shot back. I gave a small laugh.

"Just running for the phone… What do you need Jax?" I asked him, trying to use my nonexistent superpowers to will my headache away. Normally they aren't this strong. I groaned, inwardly.

"Half-Sack hurt himself fucking around with Juice doing God knows what. So, we need you in the shop today Kate." Jax came out and said.

"I have a test I have to take and get submitted by noon, Jax." I told him.

"Come on Ryn, please. Do it for me." Jax asked, emphasizing on my name. He knows I can't resist when he asks me to do something for him. I snorted in the phone.

"And why would I do it for you?" I countered. I can hear him suppressing a smile.

"Then do it for Half-Sack." He said. I rolled my eyes. "Come on Ryn, the club needs you." I sighed.

"I don't know…" I said, trying to sound unconvinced.

"I'd owe you a favor, Darlin'." He told me. I smiled in satisfaction.

"Alright, Jax. I'll be in after my test. And I will be collecting on that favor." I told him. He laughed.

"Oh, don't worry Darlin', you know that anything you ask for is yours." He said, implying something.

"Baby, you couldn't resist me if you tried." I told him. He laughed and I laughed with him.

"I don't what I'd do without you; you set me straight, Darlin'." He said, more to himself then to me. I nodded, realizing he couldn't see me. He doesn't know, but he does the same thing for me.

"I'll see you later, Jax. If you love me, you'll have coffee waiting for me." I told him.

"Always do." He said before hanging up. I sighed and put my cell phone back on its charger. No sooner had I put my phone down, did it start to ring. I picked it up.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hey, Katie, I didn't wake you up did I?" Dylan asked, my younger brother. He'll be 18 this month. He's also the only one who calls me 'Katie'… or that I allow to call me that, anyway. My first name is Kathryn. Everyone around here either calls me 'Kate' or 'Ryn' for short. My parents and my brothers were the only ones who ever called me 'Katie.'

My father was an abusive bastard, who only gave a shit about himself. If something wasn't his way, it was wrong. My mother was an alcoholic that couldn't deal with anything, so she would drown her sorrows in liquor.

My parents split up when I was younger, so I didn't have to deal with them fighting all of the time. For awhile, things were better. My father remarried, and I ended up with a stepsister and a stepmother who acted like an actual parent.

I stayed with my mother, because I couldn't put up with my father all of the time. He never hit me. It was never me. It was always my mother, or Dylan, my brother. I made Dylan move in with me and Mom. I couldn't just let him get hit. My youngest brother, Adam, he adored my father, so he stayed. Dad always kept his hands off of Adam. Dylan just reminded him the most of my Mother, so he got the benefit of my father's wrath.

I fell asleep on the couch with a friend of mine, about five years back, and for whatever reason, my dad picked that day to barge into my mother's house, uninvited with his child support check. Dad's screaming woke me up. I'd fallen asleep with a girl. We hadn't been doing anything, seeing as I was only interested in guys romantically. But my dear old father jumped to conclusions, called me a dyke, and disowned me as his daughter.

He moved from Charming to Dallas, Texas the next week with my Step-mom, stepsister, and Adam. Dylan stayed behind with me and our mother. But, the drinking only got worse. One day I came home to find him bleeding, on the ground. My mother had attacked him, because she was afraid that he was going to leave her like our father had. I tried to get him out; it didn't take long to put two and two together. Mom threw anything she could get her hands on at me. When Clay and Gemma found us at the house, they said it was littered with broken bottles, and picture frames. I know that my brother would never hit our mom. Truth be told, neither would I. But, I was used to her hitting me.

She didn't hit me often, but I would stop her from hurting my brothers, growing up. So I always dealt with the benefit of her constant frustration.

Needless to say, Dylan went to live with our Aunt and Uncle. And I live on my own. It's been this way for about four years now. I don't know what's become of my mother. After the incident, she moved from Charming, and no one has heard from her since. It's probably for the best.

For whatever reason, growing up, I'd always been close with Juice and Jax. I was always around the club and the shop because of this. Clay and Gemma took a liking to me. They are probably the closest thing to parents that I have, well, them, and Chibs. He's always treated me like a daughter. So, I've been working at the mechanic shop so as long as I can remember.

The age difference never seemed to matter too much. I turned 20 back in June, and Jax is nearly 25.

"Katie, you there?" Dylan asked, bringing my attention back to him.

"Yeah, sorry babe. What did you say?" I asked him.

"I didn't wake you up; did I?" He asked, worried.

"No, you didn't. How's your morning?" I asked. He laughed.

"It's fine, but I was calling to check on you." He said. I scoffed.

"I'm fine; you don't need to worry about me." I told him. I can almost picture him rolling his eyes.

"Have you been sleeping?" He asked me. I growled in irritation.

"Yes, I've been sleeping. And the Melatonin is helping, and I've been taking the migraine medicine. Happy?" I asked him. He chuckled.

"Ecstatic. You can't blame a guy for checking on his sister." He said. I know he feels badly about leaving Charming. But I wouldn't have let him stay, even if he wanted to. There are too many bad memories here for him. He needed a fresh start with a real home with actual parents, and he got one. It's something that I wish to God that I could have given him, myself, but I couldn't.

"Well, I worry about you too, little brother. Take care of yourself, you hear?" I asked him.

"I got it. I keep myself out of trouble." He told me.

"Good, you know that I'm proud of you? Right?" I asked him.

"I know, Katie. I do. You're the strongest person I know; you can get through anything. Remember that, okay?" He told me.

"I will, sweet boy. Go get ready for school. We can't have you been late." I told him, willing my voice not to break.

"I love you, Katie." He said, softly.

"I love you, too, Dylan. Have a good day, Sweets." I told him. We hung up and I walked to the bathroom. I turned on the hot water and walked back into my room. I turned on my laptop and went back into the bathroom. I stripped out of my bra and panties and got into the shower.

I shut the shower curtain and felt my body relax under the hot water. I can almost feel my skin cooking, but it's not hot enough. I need the water to be scalding. Otherwise, I don't feel clean. I don't know what it is. I hummed to myself as I began to wash my hair. I washed myself and conditioned my hair. I grimaced as I began shaving. Though, in all actuality, the shower was over far too quickly. It's my morning ritual of solace.

I looked at my reflection as I pulled on today's clothes, same old sleeveless tee shirt, dark jean shorts, and low top converse. I wore and mechanic suit when I worked on the cars, so wearing shorts didn't matter much. It's just too hot to wear jeans in the summer. It's always baking in August, here. My breath caught when I actually saw my face. I barely recognize myself anymore. I look older than I should. Appearance-wise, I look the same… with little differences that I doubt other people would notice.

I have the same mocha colored skin that I've always had. I have that benefit from having a white mother and a black father. My mother never married my biological father. The man that I've called 'father' all of these years was my adoptive father. What a charmer he turned out to be.

I have dark brown, wavy hair that falls just to the bottom of my ribcage, with the same side bangs that I've always had. The same dark brown, almost black eyes… The same scar in my right eyebrow and the same piercing in that eyebrow.

I lifted my shirt past my navel. I have the same few scars that litter my stomach, from open heart surgery and the same navel piercing. I sighed and pushed my shirt back down. I resumed drying my hair. I gave up and rubbed some leave-in-conditioner into it. I grabbed my makeup back and set to work. I don't wear much, I really don't have anyone to impress. And if someone doesn't want me like this, then I don't see what caking on an ass load of makeup will do.

I put on a bit of foundation and dark black eyeliner and some Chapstick. I put my makeup away and went to my computer desk to get started on that test. I sighed inwardly, I like learning about Psychology, but the tests are a bitch… And since Charming doesn't have any colleges close by, I stick to online classes.

I finished the test, submitted it and turned off my computer. I grabbed my cell and my purse. I put on my sunglasses before walking outside of the house. I locked it and walked over to my car. It's my pride and joy. I have a black, '67 Chevy Impala. I love my baby. I turned her on and drove over to the shop, blasting my music on the way.

I climbed out of my car and locked it. Chibs wiped off his hands when he saw me. He smiled and walked over. He pulled me into a hug that lifted me off my feet.

"Mornin' Baby Girl," he greeted. I smiled.

"Morning Da," I told him. He chuckled. It was an inside joke that we have. It started as teasing one day, and it's stuck ever since.

"Jax is around here somewhere with your coffee, Kate." He told me. I smiled and nodded. "Oh, and Gem wants to talk to you in the office." Chibs added. I nodded.

"Thanks Da," I told him. He swatted at my arm playfully. I stuck my tongue out at him as I made my way inside. Gemma looked up at me as I walked in. She smiled.

"Morning Darlin'," she greeted. I smiled.

"Morning Gemma," I replied, smiling.

"Sit down; I want to talk to you, a minute." She told me. I nodded and took a seat. She put the papers that she was looking over, away. She turned her attention on me. She started to say something, but stopped herself and got up and closed the door. I guess she doesn't want to be overheard.

"Everything okay, Gemma?" I asked her. She gave me a half smile and took her seat.

"I need a favor Katie," she said out of habit. On occasion Clay and Gemma still call me Katie. It's what I grew up with, so it's a hard habit to break. I nodded. "I need you to talk to Jax. I don't know what's going on in that head of his. And I'm not asking you to find out and tell me, I just want to know that my boy is alright." She told me. I nodded.

"Of course," I told her, simply. She smiled and laid a hand on mine.

"I wish I had a daughter like you, you know." She said, thinking out loud. I smiled and looked down. This isn't the first time that Gemma has said something like this… but it doesn't happen often. "You know that I consider you to be a part of the family; you know that, baby." She told me. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up.

"I know, Gemma." I told her softly. She nodded, satisfied. I got up and stared at her for a moment before hugging her. She gave me a light squeeze.

"I love you, kid." She told me.

"I love you, too, Gem." I assured her and walked towards the door.

"Jax is around here somewhere." She told me, knowing I'd be looking for him, so I'd get my coffee. I shook my head and left the office, closing the door behind me.

I put my cell phone into my pocket. I turned around and went back to the office. I opened the door and set my purse down behind Gemma's desk. She smiled and nodded as I left. I always keep my purse in there. I never forget it, when I leave it there.

I grabbed my mechanic suit and slipped it on over my shorts and put my arms through the armholes. I left a few of the buttons undone. I pulled my hair tie off of my wrist and twisted my hair into a messy bun. I started walking over to Chibs to help on the car he was working on.

"What the fuck?" I exclaimed as someone lifted me into the air from behind. I tried to elbow the culprit but met nothing but air. I'm used to this. Seeing as apart from Gemma, I'm the only female working here on a regular basis.

"What's the matter Shorty? Feet can't reach the ground?" I heard Juice tease.

"Damn it, Juice. Put me down." I told him, irritated.

"Ask nicely," he pressed. I sighed.

"Put me down and I won't shank you." I promised, innocently. He laughed and put me down.

"It's not my fault that you're short." He said, as if he did nothing wrong. I laughed.

"I'm not short; I'm fun-sized." I told him matter-of-factly. He chuckled.

"…Yeah… fun-sized." He said, laughingly. I made a face at him.

"Not that you'd know," I shot back. That wiped the smile off of his face, temporarily.

"Not my fault Mocha Girl is a prude." He shot back.

"Nah, I'm just not a whore." I told him. He chuckled and put an arm around my shoulders.

"You know I love my Mocha Girl… even if she is a midget." He said, truthfully.

"Yeah… I guess I love my Taco even if he is an ass." I told him smiling. I'm not that short. I'm 5'4".

"Let's go fix stuff." Juice said seriously, with mock determination. He stuck his fist in the air as he said it. I laughed as we went to work.

I wiped my hands on the pants of my suit, and grabbed a wash rag and wiped at my face. I can feel grease on my cheek. I never go home clean, after being here. I sighed as I sat on the hood of one of the cars and leaned back.

"Be careful Darlin', you don't want to dent it." I heard Jax say as I closed my eyes. I didn't bother to answer him. I just lifted my hand and flipped him off. I heard him laugh.

"Careful Jackie Boy, I wouldn't piss the lady off. Someone forgot her coffee this morning. She's out for blood." Chibs told him. I suppressed a smile.

"I didn't forget… It's just… delayed. Mocha will forgive me, she always does." Jax said knowingly. I felt him sit next to me on the hood of the car. I leaned forward a bit, just enough for him to put an arm around me, then I relaxed against the car again. "I have your caffeine." He told me. I grimaced.

"You made me wait." I told him, still not opening my eyes.

"I promise I'll make it up to you." He said. I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh and how do you plan on doing that?" I asked him. I heard Chibs laugh.

"I need to take to Opie about something." Chibs announced, excusing himself.

"Well…" Jax breathed into my ear. I felt goose bumps travel across my body. That voice… Mm… Only Jax could do this to me. I've never been with anyone who can make me feel like Jax can, which is something, considering Jax and I have never gotten together. "I could do this." Jax finished.

He made a trail of small kisses on my neck. I shuddered and swallowed a light moan. I let my eyes flutter open. He moved closer to me and set my coffee on a work table next to the car and moved his hand to my abdomen. He hovered on top of me. My breath caught. I finally found my voice.

"This is how you plan on making it up to me?" I asked him, smirking and raising an eyebrow. He smiled and leaned forward.

"What, you don't like it?" He asked, feigning innocence. He placed a small kiss on my lips and pulled back. We've kissed before. Who hasn't had their share of random kisses between friends by making out with drunken confidence?

"Have you ever met a single female that you haven't been able to charm?" I asked him as his lips found their way back to my own.

"Yeah, you." He said, trying not to smile. I smirked and leaned up to kiss him.

"Good." I told him, pulling back and leaning back down. He lowered himself completely on top of me and his hand found its way to my hip. "Let's keep it that way." I told him. He smirked and shook his head.

"I don't think so. You aren't getting out this that easily, Darlin'." Jax told me. Shit. I'm in trouble.

"Oh, is that right?" I asked him, cockily.

"Yes," he answered. He claimed my lips, this time, running his tongue along my bottom lip. He wasn't going to stop until I kissed him back. I opened my mouth and gave him the access he was looking for. I pushed my lips against him, harder than before. He growled in approval.

His knee ended up in between my legs. I groaned into his mouth and he moved it. I was the first to pull away from our battle of dominance. I sucked in air as he kissed my neck making me shudder against him. I pushed him away and slid off of the hood. I picked up the coffee and took a dreg. I breathed slowly, trying to regulate my breathing. I straightened my suit and slipped my arms out of it, and let them hang to my sides. The rest of the buttons had come undone.

I looked over at Jax smirking at me.

"Consider us even for the coffee, Darlin'." Jax said, smiling.

"Oh no, you still owe my Baby Boy." I told him. He raised his eyes and shook his head smirking.

"You're so hard to please." He said. I shrugged.

"I think you enjoyed that more than I did." I told him. He got off of the car and walked up to me.

"Is that so?" He asked. I nodded. "Okay, we'll see about that." He said. I smirked at him and resumed drinking my coffee.

"Don't pout; you know I love you… most of the time." I told him. I walked past him to wash up, some. He pinched my butt as I walked by. I turned around to glare at him. I flipped him off again.

"Is that an offer?" He asked.

"Has it ever been?" I asked him. He shook his head and laughed. "Cocksucker," I insulted him, half-heartedly. He held a hand to his heart.

"That hurt," he said, sarcastically.

"Good." I retorted. I turned my attention to the sound of a car motor. Tig came driving up in Gemma's car. "Oh my God, food." I said, forgetting my anger. Jax laughed. Tig turned off the car and got out carrying paper bags full of food goodness.

"Got your favorite Kate," Tig told me, walking up. I smiled.

"Have I told you that I loved you, lately?" I asked. He laughed and handed me bag. "Thank you." I said, taking the food and finding my way back to the hood of the car that served as my chair earlier. I eased myself back onto it and dug into the bag. I pulled out a tuna sub and a container of mashed potatoes and gravy. My stomach actually growled.

"Hungry?" Jax asked, taking food from Tig.

"Oh hush, this coffee is the only thing that I've had all day." I told him, unwrapping the tuna and taking a bite out of the sandwich. Jax gave me a disapproving look.

"Baby Girl, what are you doing tonight?" Gemma asked me as I changed back into my regular clothes.

"A big bunch of nothing," I told her, smiling. She laughed.

"That's what I like to hear. We're having a family dinner tonight 'round 8." Gemma said. I nodded.

"I'll be there." I assured her.

"I don't think we need you here anymore today. So, if you want to get the groceries with me, and help me cook, you can clean up at the house." She told me. I nodded.

"Sounds good, I'll drive." I told her. She nodded.

"Let's go, Baby." She told me. I grabbed my purse from the office and we were off.

Author's Note: There's the first chapter for you. Hopefully you enjoyed it. Reviews would be appreciated. :~)

Xo Xo,
Anneryn